On Monday, July 2, 2010, by invitation of the Secretary to His Beatitude, Metropolitan VLADIMIR of Kiev and All Ukraine for parishes in Kiev, Archpriest Vitaly Kosovsky, the Representative of the Orthodox Church in America to the Moscow Patriarchate, Archimandrite Zacchaeus participated in the patronal feast day celebrations at the ancient Prophet Elias Church in Kiev.
The Hierarchical Divine Liturgy was celebrated by His Eminence, Archbishop PAVEL of Vyshgorod and Abbot of the Holy Dormition Lavra of the Caves in Kiev at the Holy Prophet Elias Church which stands on the place where the Holy Prince Vladimir baptized the Peoples of Rus’ over 1000 years ago.
Following the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy, His Eminence, Archbishop PAVEL congratulated the parish Rector, Archpriest Vitaly Kosovsky and the parishioners on the occasion of the parish patronal feast and also welcomed Archimandrite Zacchaeus to the parish and thanked him for joining in the celebration. Father Zacchaeus then presented the parish with a small particle of the relics of the Venerable Saint Herman of Alaska and Wonderworker of All America which will be put in a place of honor in the temple for veneration by the faithful. In offering the particle of the holy relics to the parish, Father Zacchaeus emphasized the unity that exists between the Orthodox Church in America, the Russian Orthodox Church and the Orthodox Church in Ukraine, which is clearly witnessed by the common veneration of such great saints and missionaries like the Venerable Herman of Alaska who very obviously unites the Churches in North America and in the lands of Rus’.
Afterwards, a festal meal was held in the parish dining hall during which Archbishop PAVEL, Archimandrite Zacchaeus and Archpriest Vitaly Kosovsky had the opportunity to continue in informal conversation.
